Greater New Orleans

No clear winner in final GOP presidential debate

The final Republican presidential debate before Tuesday's voting in Arizona and Michigan and the 10-state Super Tuesday balloting March 4 is in the books. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who has surged into contention with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney was on the hot seat.

The Washington Post gave passing grades to Romney and Texas Rep. Ron Paul, while being less enthused about Santorum's performance: For a guy who finally gained frontrunner status after a long haul, (Santorum) didn't handle it very well on the debate stage. As we noted Wednesday night, many of his counterpunches were difficult to follow and went way too far into the weeds.

The Christian Science Monitor, however, called Santorum "the debate's aggressor on federal bailouts -- a key issue in Michigan, where the U.S. auto industry is based. GM and Chrysler have since recovered after taking massive bailouts, forcing Romney to explain a 2008 editorial provocatively headlined, "Let Detroit Go Bankrupt."

Under the headline, "Santorum Draws Fire in Fight for GOP Lead," the Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported: Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney sought Wednesday to
portray Rick Santorum's 16-year career in Congress as a betrayal of
conservative principles, using a televised debate to try to define his
top rival at a moment when many voters are paying new attention to the
former senator.

The New York Times says Romney challenged Santorum's
"credentials as a fiscal conservative in a fiercely combative debate on
Wednesday, trying to redefine Mr. Santorum as part of the problem in
Washington and regain his footing in the fight for the Republican
presidential nomination."

The Los Angeles Times saw the debate as a missed chance for Santorum: If Rick Santorum falls short in the 2012 Republican presidential contest, he may look
back at Wednesday night's freewheeling presidential debate as a crucial
opportunity that got away.

The former Pennsylvania
senator had his winning moments, but he probably failed to do enough to
change the dynamics of a race that seems to be shifting slowly back in Mitt Romney's direction, particularly in Arizona and Michigan, which hold pivotal primaries next Tuesday.